Terra Hale, the 2013 Russellville Junior High School teacher of the year, does not consider herself to be successful in the classroom if all her students learn is math.

She believes she teaches to the whole child and models good morals and ethical behavior, expecting her students to follow suit.

Hale said she became a teacher after experiencing the negative impact a junior high math teacher had on her — she was determined she could be a math teacher who taught differently. She vowed to not make judgments about students based on one test grade or one bad decision they might make. She wants to make a difference in the lives of her students.

Terra thinks her rapport with students is what allows her to make that difference in a way in which students can connect — using the same humor teenagers find funny. She makes jokes and engages her students through laughter. Her passion for math and desire to be a lifetime learner translates in her teaching. The students are comfortable with her and enjoy how she makes math fun.

Terra’s favorite part about being a teacher is that each day is unique; every day brings new challenges and celebrations. She also finds teenagers incredibly entertaining. She says,

“My absolute favorite part of the job is when students have an ‘Aha!’ moment while I am teaching,” she said.

Terra taught eighth grade at Dardanelle Middle School for four years, taught pre-kindergarten for five years, served as director and assistant director for a pre-school for four years, taught seventh grade math at Russellville Middle School for two years, and has been at Russellville junior high for two years.

She said she plans on staying at RJHS for a long while, and says her middle son, Conlee, has made her promise not to follow him to high school.